Matti also shared the same picture on his Instagram and said, “If there’s anyone who deserves a proper goodbye, it’s you (Liza). Hoping to work with you in the future. Now go fly and kick some fu%$kin’ villain’s ass!”

He previously announced that he believed in her capabilities to play Darna.

However, Matti consistently defended her and said that she was “a good pick.”

In an interview in June 2017, he said, “She is a good pick because of her features. She could be really sweet and innocent, but at the same time, she could also be fiery, brave and can represent (the spirit of a Filipina).”

One year later, Matti remarked that Soberano’s critics will stop when they eventually see her in “full physical form” once she dons the costume.

He added that look tests have been done to Soberano in both her character’s heroine and human form.

For her part, the actress is currently undergoing intensive physical training for her action scenes since last year. Based on her social media posts, she has boxing sessions and high-intensity interval training, among others.

Soberano cited that she wanted to do her own stunts in the film before, thus her initiative. “I want to look physically strong,” she said.